Death sentence for kidnapper-murderer commuted to life imprisonment

SEOUL, April 23 (Yonhap) -- A Seoul appeals court on Thursday handed down a life
sentence to a man indicted of kidnapping and murdering a mother and her daughter,
dismissing a lower court's ruling in January that sentenced him to death.
The 28-year-old man, identified only by his surname Ha, was convicted of
kidnapping the 47-year-old woman and her daughter on Ganghwa island, 50 km west
of Seoul, in June last year. He then strangled them after withdrawing 100 million
won (US$74,000) from the mother's account.
He was also accused of abducting and killing his half-sister.
Two of his accomplices were given life sentences.
brk@yna.co.kr
(END)